Fall sports to occur in Delaware following DIAA and State Board of Education votes
DOVER, Del. (BVM) — Delaware high school sports fans received welcomed news on Thursday night when the Delaware State Board of Education approved fall sports seasons to begin in September. The narrow 4-3 vote occurred after lengthy discussion by the board during its meeting. With the decision, the outdoor sports of field hockey, football, boys soccer, volleyball, and cross country teams can begin practices on Sept. 28. The vote comes after the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association board voted Sept. 9 to amend its Emergency Regulation 1010, which initially postponed the fall sports season in the state.
The decision whether a district or a school decides to participate in the fall season will be up to the individual districts and schools, according to the DIAA. However, if schools choose to participate, they must follow the guidelines released by the state, Division of Public Health and the DIAA. One such guideline is the requirement of face coverings during events which includes them being worn by athletes, coaches and fans alike.
“DIAA remains committed to protecting the physical well-being of all student athletes,” the organization stated in a Sept. 18 press release. “All individuals, including student athletes, coaches, administrators, officials, and spectators shall wear face coverings as required by the State’s emergency order.”
Along with the decision to move forward with fall sports, the DIAA also announced that fall sports will have a three-week preseason while football will have a 25-day preseason beginning Sept. 28. Cross country will be permitted to have up to 12 dates of competition and volleyball, field hockey and boys soccer will be allowed to have up to 12 contests. Football will be the outlier with a seven-game schedule. The organization also announced that the winter sports preseason will begin Nov. 30 and spring sports will begin March 1, changing the previously approved plan of shortened winter and spring seasons to make space for fall sports.
There will also be a number of hoops districts and schools will have to jump through before they can begin their fall sports seasons. Before any member school hosts any practices, scrimmages, or competitions indoors, the member school must provide documentation of receiving approval from the Delaware Division of Public Health to host the indoor sport to the DIAA office. All coaches and student athletes will also continue to be screened by their member school for COVID-19 symptoms prior to approved athletic activities. Member schools will also need to follow the DIAA’s return to play plan stage 3 requirements effective Sept. 17 and Stage 4 requirements Sept. 28.
The DIAA Board of Directors will meet again on Sept. 24 to develop a plan for a phased in approach for football and safety protocol for game administration and considerations for officials and spectators, according to the release.
While a number of the state’s schools are currently conducting coursework online or in mixed formats, the news is one that will not only return athletes to their playing grounds, but students among their fellow classmates. As districts and schools prepare to begin the process of beginning their fall sports seasons or proposals to not move forward, fans across the state will be waiting in anticipation for their school’s decision in hopes to see their teams return.
